BayMoonDesign: There Be Dragons- -Art Elements Winter Challenge

https://unsplash.com/@nickkarvounis

The Art Bead Scene Challenge for December is a dragon themed challenge! The challenge is to create something (it could be beads, jewelry, art work etc…) inspired by dragons!

A dragon is a legendary creature, typically scaled or fire-spewing and with serpentine, reptilian or avian traits. Dragons are featured in the myths of many cultures. The two most well-known cultural traditions of dragon are the European and Oriental dragons.

flag of Wales

The European dragon is derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Balkans and Western Asian mythologies. Most are depicted as reptilian creatures with animal-level intelligence, and are uniquely six-limbed (four legs and a separate set of wings) like the dragon on the flag of Wales.

https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt

The Oriental or Eastern dragons are from areas like China, Japan, Korea and other East Asian and South Asian countries. These are depicted as a serpentine creature with above-average intelligence, and are quadrupeds (four legs and wingless).

Fantasy Dragon Bracelet by BayMoonDesign

Being of Celtic heritage, I decided to use the European dragon. To do that I selected a very handsome pewter Celtic dragon by Green Girl Studios as the focal for my Celtic dragon bracelet. I love that there is a dragon is on one side and a Celtic weave design on the other.

Celtic Weave Design on opposite side

I choose to use green jasper, reddish green Czech beads and sterling silver spacer beads. I made the handmade sterling silver clasp for this bracelet.

I selected green as the primary color because the color has meaning in Celtic tales. In Celtic myths the Green man was the God of fertility. The Green Man is primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring.

By Llywelyn2000 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Later in the millennium, Early Christians banned green because it had been used in pagan ceremonies. By the 15th Century, the color green was a choice for a bridal gown because of its earliest symbolism. The color green Green has been reinterpreted by late 20th century American culture to signify a state of heightened sexuality in this specific situation.

Since the color wheel shows primary–secondary complementary color to green is red, my other beads are red Czech glass beads that have a hint of green. This bracelet is available for purchase in my BayMoonDesign online shop. I think it makes a great St. Patrick's Day bracelet or birthday gift.

A special thanks to Nicky Sayers for putting this challenge together. Grab a hot drink and take some time to see what others came up with for this challenge--always a treat!

Guests

AJE Team

Cathy

Jen

Niky